Improvement in cartridge-feeding cases for machine-guns



MW. 0. FARRINGTDN. Cartridge-Feeding Base for Machine-Guns.

N0.\66,923 Pate ntedAugi 24,1875.

-FETERS, PHOYO-LITHOGRAFHiR, WASHINGTON D C.

DE WITT O. FARRINGTON, OF LOWELL, MASSACHUSETTS IMPROVEMENT IN CARTRIDGE-FEEDING CASES FOR MACHINE-GUNS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 166,923, dated August 24, 1875; application filed May 27, 1875.

CASE A.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DE WITT G. FARRING- TON, of Lowell, Massachusetts, have invented a Feed-Case, of which the following is a specification:

This invention relates to the mechanism for retaining cartridges and delivering the same from a feed-case for supplying ammunition to machine or rapid-firing guns.

In Figure 1 of the drawings letter A represent-s a feed-case of any proper material filled with cartridges. Letter B is a hook, which is hinged to the side of the feed-case, as shown at letter 0, and closed over the mouth of the feed-case to retain the cartridges within it. Letter D represents a catch or latch which firmly holds the hook B in position when the case is closed. Letter Erepresents a yielding piece of metal grasping both sides of the hook and forming the catch.

Fig. 2 represents the feed-case with the hook thrown back to allow the case to be filled.

The feed-case is operated as follows: The hook B is first thrown back, as shown in Fig. 2, which, after the case is filled with cartridges, is closed over the mouth of the case and held in position by the catch D E. The feed-case is then inserted into the mouth of the hopper of the gun, which forces the hook B from the yielding catch E and allows the cartridge to fall into the hopper of the gun.

I do not confine myself to the exact form of catch or latch as shown at D E, and other equivalent forms may be used.

The advantages to be derived from this invention are First. The feed-case is not forced from its perpendicular position when in the hopper by the rigid spring which is generally used in other fe'edcases, and therefore needs no support while its contents are being fed to the gun.

Second. The hook B, being hinged, readily falls back, as shown in Fig. 2, allowing the feed-case to be more easily filled than when operated by a spring which requires to be forced and secured back while the feed-case is being filled.

Third. The hook being firmly secured by the catch D, it is not so liable to be accidentally opened as when held by a spring only.

What I claim as my invention is l. The combination, with a feed-case for ma chine-guns, of a hinged closing hook, D, attaehed to the case between the ends thereof, as shown and described.

2. In combination with the feedcase A, the catch D and the hinged catch B, extending over the mouth or open end of the case, substantially as described, and for the purposes set forth.

O. A. R. DIMON, CHAS. K. FARMER- 

